Legal Term Review

liable Legally responsible

confidential Private or secret

malpractice Bad/harmful practice that injures another person

negligence Failure to perform duties in a reasonable and customary way

libel Communicating something untruthful and harmful about another person in writing

ethics Dealing with what is good or bad, determining moral duty and obligation

jurisprudent Understanding the science or philosophy of law

moral Relating to principles of right or wrong

legal Deriving authority from or founded on law

negligence Failure to execute the care that is reasonable/prudent person exercises

slander Verbally communicating something untruthful and harmful about another person

Assault A threat or an attempt to injure another person in an illegal manner

Civil law Defines the legal relationships between individuals

battery Unlawful touching of another person w/o consent, with or w/o injury

breach Breaking the law, an obligation, or the terms of a contract

will Written document that allows person to distribute property after death

Illegal restraint Holding or detaining a person against his will

Crime Performing an act that is forbidden

ethics Standards of behavior

unethical Action that does not represent ideal behavior but may not be illegal

Criminal Law Defines the legal obligation between individual and state

tort Civil wrong

Invasion of privacy Unlawfully making known to the public any private/personal information w/o the consent of the wronged person

Privileged communication Personal private info relating to the care given by HCW

Duty of care By law, health care workers must perform services in a manner that meets common standards of practice

Reasonable care Services given in a manner appropriate to the level of education/experience of the HCW

living will A legal document that a person uses to make known his or her wishes regarding life- prolonging medical treatments

Power of attorney A document that allows you to appoint a person or organization to handle your affairs while you're unavailable or unable to do so.

DNR A document is a binding legal document that states resuscitation should not be attempted if a person suffers cardiac or respiratory arrest